Pea-cleaner.



N0. 66l,802. Patented Nbv. I3. I900.

W. T. HILLEARY, In.

PEA CLEANER.

(Application filed Mar. 6, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets$heet'l.

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Patented Nov. l3, I900.

W. T. HILLEARY, In.

PEA CLEANER.

(Application filed Mar. 6, 1900.) ('No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNiTED STAT S WILLIAM T. HILLEARY, JR., OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

. PEA-CLEAN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 661,802, dated November 13, 1900. Application filed March 6, 1900. Serial No. 7A59. (N0 model.)

in Pea-Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for cleaning and separating peas after they have been hulled.

In the operation of hulling peas a number become broken in the hulling-machines, and the value of the output diminishes in proportion as the number of split peas contained in a lot increases.

By my present invention I provide a simple machine whereby the split and broken peas are separated from the whole peas and at the same time the peas are cleaned.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein-- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the machine. Fig. 2 is a section of a portion of my inclined endless apron. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section, on a large scale, on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 through the hopper and the sliding perforated bottom. Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-section on the line 4 4. of Fig. 1 and illustrates the mechanism for vibrating the perforated bottom in the hopper. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of. a portion of the apron and the cross-bar carrying the pendent strings. I

In the drawings, a designates a table having at one end vertical standards Z). An inclined rectangular frame G, having vertical side walls 0, is supported at the elevated end by said standards I), and at the lower end said side walls are each provided with slots d, which extend parallel with'the top and bottom edges of said frame, and a hole is also in each side wall at the lower end, which receives a pin, as will be presently explained. A roller 6, carried on a shaft 6', is mounted in suitable hearings in the sides of the inclined frame 0 at the upper end and also in the standards I), and a square roller f is revoluble in movable bearings g at the lower end of the inclined frame, and said bearings are adjustable by means of the screw-rodj in the slots (1. An endless apron h is passed around the upper roller e and also the lower square roller f and travels in an inclined plane, the

.top or working stretch of the apron moving from the lower to the upper roller, as indi- .end piece and is secured in the bearing g,

which is movable in the slot cl. A nut j on the end of the rod screws up against the edge of the end piece 2' and serves as an adjusting device to draw the bearing g and square roller f downward to tighten the endless apron 71. By the construction of the square rollerf it will be seen that the apron at the lower end will be given a vibratin g or waving motion as it passes over said roller. One of the side walls 0 of the frame at the upper end and below the roller 6 is provided with a segment-slot k, and a pin It passes through said slot and enters the adjacent vertical standard b. A circular brush Z has position beneath the apron at the upperend of the frame 0 and is mounted to revolve in adjustable bearings Z in the walls 0 of said frame. This brush Z at the point of contact with the lower stretch of the apron h revolves in a direction opposite that in which the apron moves. A roller on has position beneath the apron at the lower end of the frame 0 and contacts with the apron and is revolved by the latter as it moves along. A water-receptacle m is immediately below said roller and keeps the latter wet. As the apron moves the rollerm contacting therewith will revolve and keep the apron damp.

A hopperN is supported at the upper end of the frame C above the apron and is provided with a vibrating perforated bottom n. The mechanism employed to vibrate the perforated bottom comprises the roller e,which at one end has a beveled faceo. The side wall 0 of the frame is provided with a bracket p,which pivotally supports a bar q, one end of which contacts with the said beveled face 0 on the end of the roller e. The opposite end of the pivoted bar is provided with a vertically-projecting pin g, which takes in a hole in the perforated bottom n. A spiral spring '7", bearing against the pivoted bar, serves to keep the free end of the bar in contact with the said bevel-face 0. It will thus be seen that as the roller 6 revolves the bevel-face 0 will'cause the bar q to oscillate and cause the perforated bottom it to vibrate. A separator S is also carried on the table a, and comprises a rectangular frame 5, surrounding an endless apron t. The upper stretch of this apron travels in a forward direction on two rollers t and 29, one at each end of said frame. The shaft carrying the roller t is also provided with a drive-pulley 1 A standard. to projects up at either side above the separator-frame s and is provided with a number of holes 3. The lower end of the inclined frame 0 has position over the separator-frame s, and the standards '11, take on the inside of the side walls of said frame 0. By passing a pin or bolt through the hole in the lower end of the side walls and also through one of the holes 8 in the standard u the lower end of the frame 0 may be raised or lowered. A cross-bar 0 extends from one side of the inclined frame to the other, and a plural number of strings o hang pendent from the cross-bar and contact with the upper stretch of the moving apron h.

A curtain w hangs pendent in front of the square rollerf, against which the peas strike as they roll down the inclined apron and are directed on the slowly moving separatorapron t, where they are spread out and the yellow peas, of which there are sometimes quite a number, are picked out by hand, while the good peas are carried forward by the apron t and discharged into a chute to.

Motion is imparted to the several aprons and rollers as follows: A belt y is passed over one of the pulleys on the shaft of the roller e, then down around an idler m, then forward and over the top of the pulley 15 back around another idler no, and up around the pulley onthe shaft 6. A short belt y connects a second pulley on the shaft 6 with a pulley 2 on the shaft of the circular brush Z, by which the latter is driven.

The operation is as follows: Peas are thrown into the hopper N, from which they pass through the perforated bottom onto the apron h. The working surface of the apron just beneath the hopper moves upward at an incline and the peas dropping thereon roll down the upward-moving belt. The peas roll down the upwardly-moving apron until they come in contact with the pendent strings 1:. Now it is to be noted in this connection that there is a coaotion between the row of strings and the nappy covering k on the apron, to wit: As the apron moves upwardly its nap will take hold of the ends of the strings and tend to down-rolling peas and the latter will revolve in such pocket on account of the continuous upward movement of the apron. As the peas revolve they will have a slight abrasive action with each other and with the apron and strings and any dirt, pieces of pod, or other refuse or trash will be thoroughly rubbed off them and be carried upward by this apron and discharged at the upper end. The abrasive action and revolution of the peas will continue only for a moment and until an accumulation of peas at one or several strings causes the said string or strings to swing down and let such accumulated peas roll down the inclined apron. As soon as these peas pass the said string or strings the latter will at once be caught by the nap of the upwardly-moving apron and carried up to again form the pocket or pockets for other peas. It is evident that the accumulation of peas at one or several adjacent strings will swing down only those strings and produce a slight opening at only one point and will have no effect on any other strings, whereas if each string were not movable independently of all the othersthat is, if a continuous flap or curtain were stretched across the apronthis downwardlyswinging or opening action would not be confined to one slight point, but would produce a broad opening of the flap, and thus let some peas and refuse or trash pass through before the peas had received the rubbing action just described. If there are half-peas in the lot, these will not ordinarily roll, but lie Hat, and will be carried upward by the belt and discharged with the dirt at the upper end. Sometimes a half-pea will roll on its edge, and such halves will strike against the pendent strings and be upset and then with the trash be carried upward. The good peas discharging at the bottom will strike against the curtain w and drop down on the endless apron t. Any dirt remaining on the apron after the same turns around the roller 6 will be brushed off by the brush 1. The roller m is provided to dampen the apron h, as the matter to be separated will cling to the covering h better when the latter is damp.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of an endless apron composed of two plies, the inner ply being of inelastic belt material and the outer ply having a napped surface, and'arranged to travel in an inclined plane with its napped surface moving from its lower to its higher end; and a plurality or row of independently-movable flexible strings hanging with their lowerends normally in contact with said upwardly-moving napped surface, whereby the strings will he caught by the napped surface and caused to assume an upwardly-curved position, as set forth.

2. In a device of the character described, 5 the combination of a napped endless apron in the presence of two Witnesses.

whose upper surfaceis movable in an inclined WILLIAM T. HILLEARY, JR. plane from the lower to the higherend; ahopi Witnesses:

ing with their lower ends normally in contact 10 with the mapped surface of the upwardlymoving stretch of said apron, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature per adapted to discharge peas on said apron; CHARLES B. MANN, J r., and a plurality or row of flexible strings hang- CHARLES L. VIETSCH. 

